Sunrise and sunset times in Cape Town, 2026
In Cape Town, South Africa (33.9249° S, 18.4241° E), the longest day of 2026 is 21 December: the sun rises at 05:31 and sets at 19:56, giving 14h 25m of daylight. The shortest is 21 June, with 9h 54m of daylight. Local time, Africa/Johannesburg time zone.
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2026 solstices and equinoxes in Cape Town
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Noon altitude | Sunrise direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 20 March | 06:49 | 18:57 | 12h 08m | 56.1° | 91° (east) |
| June solstice | 21 June | 07:51 | 17:44 | 9h 54m | 32.7° | 62° (east-northeast) |
| September equinox | 23 September | 06:34 | 18:43 | 12h 09m | 56.3° | 91° (east) |
| December solstice | 21 December | 05:31 | 19:56 | 14h 25m | 79.5° | 119° (east-southeast) |
Sun times in Cape Town, month by month
Twice a month: on the 1st and at mid-month. Dawn and dusk here mean civil dawn and dusk (sun 6° below the horizon). Click a date to open it in 3D.
| Date | Dawn | Sunrise | Solar noon | Max. altitude | Sunset | Dusk | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 05:09 | 05:38 | 12:49 | 79.1° | 20:00 | 20:29 | 14h 22m |
| 15 January | 05:22 | 05:50 | 12:55 | 77.2° | 20:00 | 20:28 | 14h 09m |
| 1 February | 05:40 | 06:07 | 12:59 | 73.1° | 19:51 | 20:18 | 13h 44m |
| 15 February | 05:55 | 06:21 | 13:00 | 68.7° | 19:38 | 20:04 | 13h 17m |
| 1 March | 06:08 | 06:34 | 12:58 | 63.6° | 19:22 | 19:48 | 12h 49m |
| 15 March | 06:20 | 06:45 | 12:55 | 58.1° | 19:04 | 19:29 | 12h 19m |
| 1 April | 06:33 | 06:58 | 12:50 | 51.5° | 18:41 | 19:06 | 11h 43m |
| 15 April | 06:43 | 07:08 | 12:46 | 46.2° | 18:23 | 18:48 | 11h 14m |
| 1 May | 06:55 | 07:21 | 12:43 | 40.9° | 18:05 | 18:31 | 10h 44m |
| 15 May | 07:04 | 07:31 | 12:42 | 37.2° | 17:53 | 18:20 | 10h 22m |
| 1 June | 07:15 | 07:42 | 12:44 | 34.0° | 17:45 | 18:12 | 10h 02m |
| 15 June | 07:21 | 07:49 | 12:46 | 32.8° | 17:43 | 18:11 | 9h 54m |
| 1 July | 07:24 | 07:52 | 12:50 | 33.0° | 17:48 | 18:15 | 9h 56m |
| 15 July | 07:22 | 07:49 | 12:52 | 34.6° | 17:55 | 18:22 | 10h 06m |
| 1 August | 07:12 | 07:38 | 12:52 | 38.1° | 18:06 | 18:33 | 10h 28m |
| 15 August | 06:59 | 07:25 | 12:50 | 42.1° | 18:16 | 18:42 | 10h 51m |
| 1 September | 06:39 | 07:04 | 12:46 | 47.9° | 18:28 | 18:53 | 11h 24m |
| 15 September | 06:20 | 06:45 | 12:41 | 53.2° | 18:37 | 19:02 | 11h 52m |
| 1 October | 05:58 | 06:23 | 12:35 | 59.4° | 18:49 | 19:14 | 12h 26m |
| 15 October | 05:39 | 06:04 | 12:32 | 64.7° | 18:59 | 19:25 | 12h 55m |
| 1 November | 05:19 | 05:45 | 12:29 | 70.6° | 19:14 | 19:41 | 13h 29m |
| 15 November | 05:07 | 05:34 | 12:30 | 74.6° | 19:27 | 19:55 | 13h 53m |
| 1 December | 04:59 | 05:28 | 12:35 | 77.9° | 19:42 | 20:11 | 14h 14m |
| 15 December | 05:00 | 05:29 | 12:41 | 79.4° | 19:53 | 20:22 | 14h 24m |
Terrain around Cape Town
The terrain around Cape Town rises up to 14.5° above the horizon (towards the south-southeast). On 21 December, the sun appears at 05:41 instead of 05:31 and disappears at 19:10 instead of 19:56: 0h 55m less sunshine than with a clear horizon.
| Date | Theoretical sunrise | Actual sunrise | Theoretical sunset | Actual sunset | Direct sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | 05:56 | 06:03 | 19:58 | 19:12 | 13h 10m |
| 21 February | 06:26 | 06:28 | 19:32 | 19:03 | 12h 36m |
| 21 March | 06:50 | 06:53 | 18:56 | 18:22 | 11h 30m |
| 21 April | 07:13 | 07:17 | 18:16 | 17:31 | 10h 15m |
| 21 May | 07:35 | 07:43 | 17:49 | 17:04 | 9h 22m |
| 21 June | 07:51 | 07:58 | 17:44 | 17:02 | 9h 05m |
| 21 July | 07:46 | 07:54 | 17:59 | 17:14 | 9h 21m |
| 21 August | 07:18 | 07:22 | 18:20 | 17:36 | 10h 15m |
| 21 September | 06:37 | 06:40 | 18:41 | 18:08 | 11h 29m |
| 21 October | 05:57 | 05:59 | 19:04 | 18:35 | 12h 37m |
| 21 November | 05:31 | 05:37 | 19:33 | 18:47 | 13h 11m |
| 21 December | 05:31 | 05:41 | 19:56 | 19:10 | 13h 30m |
Terrain computed up to 30 km away from an elevation model with a resolution of about 100 m; buildings and trees are not included.
Frequently asked questions
What time is sunrise in Cape Town?
In 2026, the sun rises in Cape Town between 05:28 (on 5 December) and 07:52 (on 30 June), local time (Africa/Johannesburg). At the June solstice, sunrise is at 07:51; at the December solstice, it is at 05:31.
What time is sunset in Cape Town?
In 2026, sunset in Cape Town ranges from 17:43 (on 11 June) to 20:01 (on 6 January), local time.
What is the longest day of the year in Cape Town?
It is 21 December 2026, with 14h 25m between sunrise (05:31) and sunset (19:56). The shortest day is 21 June, with 9h 54m (sunrise 07:51, sunset 17:44).
How high does the sun get in Cape Town?
At solar noon, the sun reaches 79.5° at its highest point of the year (on 21 December) and 32.7° at its lowest (on 21 June).
In which direction does the sun rise in Cape Town?
Almost due east at the equinoxes (azimuth 91°). At the June solstice, it rises in the east-northeast (azimuth 62°) and sets in the west-northwest (298°); at the December solstice, it rises in the east-southeast (119°) and sets in the west-southwest (241°).
Do the times account for daylight saving time?
Yes. All times are given in the Africa/Johannesburg time zone, which does not observe daylight saving time.
Method
Sun position computed with the SunCalc algorithm (J. Meeus’s formulas), accurate to about one minute for sunrise and sunset times. Sunrise and sunset refer to the upper edge of the sun on a clear, sea-level horizon, including atmospheric refraction: hills or buildings hide the sun earlier. The 3D map also computes the actual sunrise behind the terrain. More about the method.